SKILLS Standard Definitions Close Window

A. Personal Skills

01. Dependability -- Working in a reliable and responsible manner.
02. Flexibility -- Accepting change and variety in the workplace.
03. Persistence -- Working continuously despite interruption.
04. Integrity -- Avoiding unethical behavior and being honest.
05. Efficiency -- Effectively using resources.
06. Competitiveness -- Striving to be the best.

B. Social Skills

07. Social Perception -- Being aware of the needs and feelings of others.
08. Independent Work -- Working with little or no supervision.
09. Teamwork -- Working cooperatively with others.
10. Working with the Public -- Representing the organization and communicating with persons outside the organization.
11. Assisting/Caring -- Providing assistance, care, or service to others.
12. Performing -- Interacting with others to entertain or sell.
13. Instructing -- Teaching, guiding, or motivating others.

C. Movement Skills

14. Finger Dexterity -- Coordinating movements of the fingers.
15. Manual Dexterity -- Coordinating movements of the hand, arm and hand, or both hands.
16. Motor Coordination -- Coordinating movements of two or more limbs together.
17. Stamina -- Exerting one's self physically over long periods of time.
18. Strength -- Exerting force repeatedly or continuously.
19. Rapid Response -- Moving quickly and correctly between two different activities.

D. Perceptual Skills

20. Sound Discrimination -- Detecting the difference between sounds, pitch, or loudness.
21. Shape Discrimination -- Detecting the difference between sizes, shapes, and mass.
22. Color Vision -- Detecting the difference between colors, shades, and brightness.
23. Depth Perception -- Detecting the distance between objects.
24. Visualizing -- Forming a mental image of how something will look after it is moved or when its parts are moved.
25. Creativity -- Originating, designing, or creating new ideas, relationships, systems, artworks, or products.
26. Aesthetic Judgment -- Recognizing artistic or natural beauty.

E. Situational Skills

27. Stress Tolerance -- Dealing calmly and effectively with tense situations.
28. Hazards Tolerance -- Working in potentially dangerous conditions.
29. Discomfort Tolerance -- Working in unpleasant environmental conditions.
30. Repetition Tolerance -- Continuously performing the same action.

F. Processing Skills

31. Following Procedures -- Correctly following a given set of rules to complete a task.
32. Categorizing -- Identifying items by similarities.
33. Record Keeping -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information.
34. Attention to Detail -- Checking each item or task carefully.
35. Verifying Information -- Evaluating information against a set of standards or ensuring that it is correct.

G. Technical Skills

36. Installing -- Setting up equipment, machines, or structures to meet specifications.
37. Inspecting -- Checking and evaluating equipment, structures, and products.
38. Repairing -- Fixing, servicing, aligning, setting up, and adjusting machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
39. Troubleshooting -- Determining the cause and solution of an error.
40. Controlling Machines -- Using control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines.
41. Operating Vehicles -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment.
42. Using Computers -- Working with computers by using programs or entering data.
43. Programming -- Writing computer programs.
44. Technology Design -- Developing or adapting equipment and technology.

H. Math And Science Skills

45. Calculating -- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
46. Estimating -- Approximating distances, quantities, time, costs, resources, or materials.
47. Budgeting -- Allocating financial resources.
48. Math Reasoning -- Using mathematical methods to understand and solve problems.
49. Science Reasoning -- Using scientific methods to understand and solve problems.

I. Communication Skills

50. Reading -- Understanding information and ideas presented in writing.
51. Writing -- Communicating information and ideas in writing.
52. Speaking -- Talking to others to convey information.
53. Listening -- Listening to what people are saying and asking questions.
54. Concentrating -- Focusing on a task without interruption.

J. Problem Solving Skills

55. Information Gathering -- Locating and identifying information.
56. Evaluating -- Judging the success or progress of an idea, work activity, or project.
57. Advising -- Providing consultation or advice to others.
58. Synthesizing -- Reorganizing information to get a better approach to problems.
59. Analyzing -- Examining information and using logic to solve problems.
60. Planning -- Developing approaches for implementing ideas.
61. Active Learning -- Working with new material or information to understand the implications.
62. Using Knowledge -- Using work-related experience.

K. Management Skills

63. Safety of Others -- Managing the work environment to provide for the health and safety of others.
64. Persuading -- Convincing others to approach things differently.
65. Negotiating -- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
66. Confronting -- Communicating a position opposed to by others.
67. Initiating -- Taking on new responsibilities and challenges.
68. Coordinating -- Organizing people and activities to complete tasks.
69. Directing/Leading -- Providing leadership and direction to others.
70. Decision Making -- Understanding information and reaching a conclusion to solve problems.
71. Managing Resources -- Determining the best use of human resources, finances, and material resources.
72. Impact of Responsibility -- Accepting the long-term outcome of decisions.
SKILLS Expanded Definitions Close Window

A. PERSONAL SKILLS WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
1. Dependability Working in a reliable and responsible manner. Turning homework in on time.
Setting the security system when closing a business for the night.
Providing daily care for animals in a clinic.
2. Flexibility
Accepting change and variety in the workplace.
Working with preschool children at a daycare.
Handling the daily activities of a policeman.
Interacting with others on a class project.
3. Persistence
Working continuously despite interruption.
Studying to make good grades.
Dispatching service repairmen.
Auctioneering art works and collectibles.
4. Integrity
Avoiding unethical behavior and being honest.
Giving correct change at a grocery store.
Correctly citing resources for a term paper. Awarding job promotions based on merit.
5. Efficiency
Effectively using resources.
Organizing your school activities and study time.
Preparing a supply list for monthly activities.
Planning a travel agenda.
6. Competitiveness
Striving to be the best.
Selling the most cars in a single day.
Playing in a soccer game.
Applying for a merit scholarship.

B. SOCIAL
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
7. Social Perception
Being aware of the needs and feelings of others.
Helping a friend choose clothing for a job interview.
Working as a volunteer in a senior citizen home.
Understanding how emergency situations affect others.
8. Independent Work
Working with little or no supervision.
Working in a fire tower at a national park.
Running a lawn mowing business.
Writing a novel.
9. Team Work
Working cooperatively with others.
Collecting money for a special needs group.
Playing in a marching band.
Cooperating with others to resolve conflict.
10. Working with the Public
Representing the organization and communicating with persons outside the organization.
Providing customer service for a utility company.
Selling ads for the school yearbook.
Designing a company logo.
11. Assisting/Caring
Providing assistance, care, or service to others.
Collecting food and blankets for charity organizations.
Helping customers select purchases.
Assisting the elderly at senior centers.
12. Performing
Interacting with others to entertain or sell.
Providing training for a software product.
Singing in a chorus.
Auditioning for a reality show.
13. Instructing
Teaching, guiding, or motivating others.
Training employees how to use a new phone system.
Teaching students how to drive a car.
Working as a tutor.

C. MOVEMENT SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
14. Finger Dexterity
Coordinating movements of the fingers.
Pushing a button to start or stop a copy machine.
Counting change at a fast food restaurant.
Operating cameras and other photographic equipment.
15. Manual Dexterity
Coordinating movements of the hand, arm and hand, or both hands.
Using a pen to write a letter.
Packaging boxes for shipping.
Playing the drums in a band.
16. Motor Coordination
Coordinating movements of two or more limbs together.
Cleaning a hotel room.
Moving freight using a hand truck.
Competing in a track and field event.
17. Stamina
Exerting one's self physically over long periods of time.
Leading a hike at a state park.
Waiting tables at a busy restaurant.
Playing in a basketball game.
18. Strength
Exerting force repeatedly or continuously.
Hanging cabinets at a home construction site.
Pushing a lawn mower across the yard.
Loading appliances onto a truck for home delivery.
19. Rapid Response
Moving quickly and correctly between two different activities.
Leaving a school building during a fire drill.
Driving a car in a rainstorm.
Providing medical treatment in an emergency room.

D. PERCEPTUAL SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
20. Sound Discrimination
Detecting the difference between sounds, pitch, or loudness.
Adjusting the volume of a TV.
Detecting a truck malfunction based on engine noises.
Mixing sounds to produce a music video.
21. Shape Discrimination
Detecting the difference between sizes, shapes, and mass.
Setting a table in a restaurant.
Choosing a new pair of shoes.
Inspecting electronic components on a production line.
22. Color Vision
Detecting the difference between colors, shades, and brightness.
Choosing a hair color.
Decorating for the holidays.
Restoring an eighteenth-century painting.
23. Depth Perception
Detecting the distance between objects.
Learning to parallel park a car.
Using a forklift to relocate stock.
Determining a golf shoot.
24. Visualizing
Forming a mental image of how something will look after it is moved or when its parts are moved.
Rearranging the furniture in a bedroom.
Solving a puzzle.
Designing a website.
25. Creativity
Originating, designing, or creating new ideas, relationships, systems, artworks, or products.
Choosing the colors and type of flowers in an arrangement.
Designing a video game.
Writing a poem to celebrate a special occasion.
26. Aesthetic Judgment
Recognizing artistic or natural beauty.
Judging a dog show.
Arranging an art exhibit.
Selecting music for a concert.

E. SITUATIONAL SKILLS WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
27. Stress Tolerance
Dealing calmly and effectively with tense situations.
Preparing for final exams.
Dealing with customers during the holidays.
Managing a government relief program during a crisis.
28. Hazards Tolerance
Working in potentially dangerous conditions.
Working on a bridge construction site.
Working in a health clinic.
Working as a lifeguard at a summer camp.
29. Discomfort Tolerance
Working in unpleasant environmental conditions.
Stocking food in the freezer section of a grocery store.
Cooking in the kitchen of a popular restaurant.
Mining coal in a tunnel.
30. Repetition Tolerance
Continuously performing the same action.
Sorting daily mail.
Checking tickets at a concert.
Practicing serving skills for a volleyball match.

F. PROCESSING SKILLS WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
31. Following Procedures
Correctly following a given set of rules to complete a task.
Taking a standardized test.
Completing an application for a job.
Flying an airplane.
32. Categorizing
Identifying items by similarities.
Sorting medical supplies for inventory.
Shelving books in a library.
Labeling and displaying a shell collection.
33. Record Keeping
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information.
Tracking the number of newspapers delivered.
Keeping a play list for a radio station.
Collecting documents for tax purposes.
34. Attention to Detail
Checking each item or task carefully.
Taking attendance in class.
Conducting laboratory experiments.
Editing a term paper.
35. Verifying Information
Evaluating information against a set of standards or ensuring that it is correct.
Verifying a bank statement.
Checking a credit report.
Researching a crime.

G. TECHNICAL SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
36. Installing
Setting up equipment, machines, or structures to meet specifications.
Loading software onto a computer.
Putting a sunroof in a car.
Installing a heating and cooling system for a building.
37. Inspecting
Checking and evaluating equipment, structures, and products.
Checking a house for termites.
Testing a boat engine for performance.
Examining seatbelts for safety compliance.
38. Repairing
Fixing, servicing, aligning, setting up, and adjusting machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
Fixing a ham radio.
Servicing a bus engine.
Adjusting the gas line of a grill.
39. Trouble Shooting
Determining the cause and solution for an error.
Resolving customer complaints.
Evaluating a power outage.
Debugging computer software problems.
40. Controlling Machines
Using control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines.
Using a digital camera Sewing a outfit for a school dance.
Operating a printing press.
41. Operating Vehicles
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment.
Riding a bicycle.
Driving a truck.
Piloting a helicopter.
42. Using Computers
Working with computers by using programs or entering data.
Sending email to request information from colleges.
Maintaining electronic spreadsheets to track spending.
Managing databases for a bank
43. Programming
Writing computer programs.
Developing the program for a video game.
Writing a program for a calculator to solve quadratic equations.
Writing a program that tracks and predicts the weather.
44. Technology Design
Developing or adapting equipment and technology.
Designing a solar powered car for competition.
Adapting bathrooms for wheelchair use.
Adapting software for the vision impaired.

H. MATH AND SCIENCE SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
45. Calculating
Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
Counting the number of movies on a shelf.
Determining change for a customer.
Tracking stock market changes.
46. Estimating
Approximating distances, quantities, time, costs, resources, or materials.
Determining the travel time for a school trip.
Estimating the materials needed to build a house.
Determining the cost of a disaster.
47. Budgeting
Allocating financial resources.
Allocating money for shopping.
Determining pay raises for office staff.
Handling the resources for a construction project.
48. Math Reasoning
Using mathematical methods to understand and solve problems.
Determining which cars get the best mileage.
Understanding how to expand a recipe to serve 100 people.
Preparing the budget for a company.
49. Science Reasoning
Using scientific methods to understand and solve problems.
Conducting an experiment in a classroom.
Analyzing weather patterns.
Discovering a cure for a disease.

I. COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
50. Reading
Understanding information and ideas presented in writing.
Reading a bus schedule.
Reviewing a manual and setting up a computer.
Following instructions at an ATM.
51. Writing
Communicating information and ideas in writing.
Writing a term paper.
Creating a brochure for using a camera.
Emailing a friend.
52. Speaking
Talking to others in convey information.
Greeting guests in a restaurant.
Talking with clients to determine their business needs.
Debating the issues during an election.
53. Listening
Listening to what people are saying and asking questions.
Attending a study session before a test.
Listening to a radio talk show.
Participating in a conference call.
54. Concentrating
Focusing on a task without interruption.
Giving small group tours in a crowded museum.
Taking inventory during a storewide sale.
Monitoring air traffic during peak travel times.

J. PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
55. Information Gathering
Locating and identifying information.
Searching the internet for a school project.
Surveying residents for the census.
Collecting forensic evidence at a crime scene.
56. Evaluating
Judging the success or progress of an idea, work activity, or project.
Grading term papers.
Judging animals at a 4H show.
Analyzing the effect of a new state law.
57. Advising
Providing consultation or advice to others.
Working as an assistant coach on a tennis team.
Helping new staff select an insurance plan.
Reviewing the terms of a real estate deal and suggesting changes.
58. Synthesizing
Reorganizing information to get a better approach to problems.
Outlining a textbook to prepare for an exam.
Reviewing a work process for efficiency.
Reorganizing office staff in order to approach tasks differently.
59. Analyzing
Examining information and using logic to solve problems.
Selecting a computer software program.
Correcting an accounting error on a balance sheet.
Determining the amount of holiday merchandise to order.
60. Planning
Developing approaches for implementing ideas.
Planning a menu.
Organizing an efficient newspaper delivery route.
Arranging the activities of a conference.
61. Active Learning
Working with new material or information to understand the implications.
Using information learned at school on a job.
Using upgraded computer skills to solve problems.
Testing new fabrics for weather durability.
62. Using Knowledge
Using work-related experience.
Changing prices on merchandise to reflect a sale.
Helping customers buy a cell phone.
Knowing which medicines to prescribe for a treatment.

K. MANAGEMENT SKILLS
WORK SETTING ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THIS SKILL:
63. Safety of Others
Managing the work environment to provide for the health and safety of others.
Working as a swim instructor.
Inspecting the production line at a meat packing plant.
Checking luggage at the airport.
64. Persuading
Convincing others to approach things differently.
Convincing children to eat their vegetables.
Creating an advertising campaign to promote public transportation.
Persuading students to vote in school elections.
65. Negotiating
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Discussing a pay raise.
Working to complete the sale of a house.
Determining the guidelines for a group project.
66. Confronting
Communicating a position opposed by others.
Protesting a controversial grade.
Arresting a criminal.
Supporting an unpopular tax.
67. Initiating
Taking on new responsibilities and challenges.
Beginning a new job Drafting a business plan for a new company.
Joining a community organization.
68. Coordinating
Organizing people and activities to complete tasks.
Managing a school play.
Arranging for the delivery of food for a party.
Organizing the activities at a construction site.
69. Directing/Leading
Providing leadership and director to others.
Helping a shopper find a grocery item.
Working as a youth counselor for a summer camp.
Managing a research team developing a new product.
70. Decision Making
Understanding information and reaching a conclusion to solve problems.
Determining which classes to take in order to graduate.
Deciding which job applicant to hire.
Determining national foreign policy.
71. Managing Resources
Determining the best use of human resources, finances, and materials resources.
Tracking events and timeframes for the school yearbook.
Managing retirement benefits for a human resources department.
Coordinating a sports program for the state.
72. Impact of Responsibility
Accepting the long-term outcome of decisions.
Participating in a school review panel.
Designing a green space.
Planning a class schedule to meet career goals.